The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Police teams formed to search for school principal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 20, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Police teams formed to search for school principal

Staff Reporter

He has been charged with molesting two girl students

Bangalore: A day after parents accused principal of St. Clarent High School in Sharadambanagar in Jalahalli of having misbehaved with their wards and filed a complaint against him, the police have formed special teams to arrest him.

The principal, Fr. Mathew, is reportedly absconding since Sunday afternoon. Sources said he had gone to Sarjapura to attend a workshop where he heard about the case and has since been "untraceable". One of two special teams has gone to look for him in Kerala, police said.

Fr. Jacob, principal of the St. Claret College, managed by the St. Claret Educational Society, said the molestation charges were baseless. "I do not know if he is guilty or innocent. I agree that the case should be investigated. What I do not understand is why the teachers should be targeted, why should the school property be damaged?" he asked.

He claimed though the school authorities had sought police protection, Archbishop Bernard Moras was manhandled by an angry mob that was protesting in front of the school on Monday. A case in this regard had been filed on Tuesday.

However, the police, who were present during the protest, said that no such incident took place. Fr. Jacob said they wanted to conduct classes on Tuesday when a group of miscreants came and threatened the teachers. Prabha, a parent, said the school principal was a "good man" and the allegations against him were baseless. Teachers of the school said the protesters on Monday were not parents of students.Security has been tightened at the school. Two platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, three inspectors and 20 civil staff have been deputed. Bipin Gopal Krishna, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), said there were two angles to the case.

One is the complaint filed against the principal and the another is the case against protesters who damaged school property. On Monday, angry parents alleged that Fr. Mathew had misbehaved with two girl students. They staged a protest and ransacked school property.

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